Stealth Fighter Crash In U.s. Due To Lack Of Mechanics

OTHER NEWS TO NOTE - SOUTH

December 26, 1992

EL PASO, TEXAS — Air Force investigators say a shortage of experienced mechanics that occurred at home when ground crews were sent to the Persian Gulf contributed to the crash of a stealth fighter in New Mexico last summer. According to a report obtained by the El Paso Times, Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico was left with only one experienced stealth mechanic when ground crews were sent to Saudi Arabia to maintain stealth fighters being used to monitor the Gulf War cease-fire. The base resorted to volunteers, some of whom had no experience fixing the radar-evading plane, the report said. The Aug. 4 crash damaged a mobile home and destroyed a storage building but caused no injuries. The pilot parachuted to safety.